U.S. patent application number 14/097754 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-26 for virtual sensor network system and method for convergence of heterogeneous sensors.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University. Invention is credited to Yoonho Jang, Jae Wook Jeon, Jin Ho Kim, Jinhak Kim, Hyoung Geun Kwon, Hui Sung Lee, Yo Han Lee.
Application Number | 20140180539 14/097754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50975604 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140180539 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jinhak ; et
al. |
June 26, 2014 |
VIRTUAL SENSOR NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERGENCE OF
HETEROGENEOUS SENSORS
Abstract
A virtual sensor network system is provided that includes a
virtual sensor node that stores sensor data collected from a sensor
mounted within a vehicle in time synchronization therewith and
provides the stored sensor data in time synchronization therewith,
in addition, a master node performs a control on the virtual sensor
node and executes an algorithm used in an intelligent vehicle using
the sensor data. The master node receives the sensor data stored in
the virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data in time
synchronization therewith, without inputting actual sensor data
from the sensor mounted within the vehicle when executing the
algorithm.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jinhak; (Suwon, KR)
; Lee; Hui Sung; (Gunpo, KR) ; Kwon; Hyoung
Geun; (Seongnam, KR) ; Jang; Yoonho; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee; Yo Han; (Suwon, KR) ; Kim; Jin
Ho; (Suwon, KR) ; Jeon; Jae Wook; (Suwon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company
Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
Kia Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Suwon
Seoul |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Seoul
KR
Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan
University
Suwon
KR
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
50975604 |
Appl. No.: |
14/097754 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/36 ;
701/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 1/125 20130101;
G07C 5/085 20130101; H04L 67/12 20130101; G06K 19/04 20130101; H04W
84/18 20130101; G06K 19/0717 20130101; G07C 5/008 20130101; H04W
4/38 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/36 ;
701/1 |
International
Class: |
G07C 5/00 20060101
G07C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0149949 |
Claims
1. A virtual sensor network system, comprising: a virtual sensor
node that stores sensor data collected from a sensor mounted within
a vehicle in time synchronization therewith and provides the stored
sensor data in time synchronization therewith; and a master node
that performs a control on the virtual sensor node and executes an
algorithm used in an intelligent vehicle using the sensor data,
wherein the master node receives the sensor data stored in the
virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data in time
synchronization therewith, without inputting actual sensor data
from the sensor mounted within the vehicle when executing the
algorithm.
2. The virtual sensor network system of claim 1, further
comprising: a convergence sensor node that transfers a command from
the master node to the virtual sensor node and the virtual sensor
data transferred from the virtual sensor node to the master node
between the master node and the virtual sensor node.
3. The virtual sensor network system of claim 2, wherein: the
convergence sensor node includes an algorithm that processes the
virtual sensor data transferred from the virtual senor node.
4. The virtual sensor network system of claim 1, wherein: the
master node stores the sensor data via the virtual sensor node
during driving of the vehicle in time synchronization therewith,
and operates the virtual sensor node to provide the sensor data
stored in the virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data when
the virtual sensor node is not connected with the vehicle.
5. The virtual sensor network system of any one of claims 4,
wherein: the master node and the virtual sensor node each includes:
an interface unit that serves as an interface with networks
extraneous to a vehicle; and a controller configured to: execute a
basic function of a node; and execute components of the node using
an algorithm.
6. The virtual sensor network system of claim 5, wherein the
interface unit includes: a sensor interface connected with the
sensor of the vehicle to operate the sensor and receive the sensor
data from the sensor; and a network interface connected with a node
of an upper layer or a lower layer to receive command data and
transmit sensor data.
7. The virtual sensor network system of claim 6, wherein controller
is further configured to: provide a time period for
synchronization; store the sensor data received from the sensor
interface and a time for the time synchronization; and provide the
stored sensor data to the node of the upper layer as the virtual
sensor data in the provided time.
8. The virtual sensor network system of claim 7, wherein the
controller is further configured to: provide the functions of the
node via a standardized interface; and convert and provide
heterogeneous sensor protocols into a single integrated standard
protocol.
9. The virtual sensor network system of claim 8, wherein the
configured is further configured to: synchronize an entire time of
the virtual sensor network system.
10. The virtual sensor network system of claim 8, wherein the
controller is further configured to: convert and transfer the
stored sensor data to the node of the upper node as the virtual
sensor data.
11. The virtual sensor network system of claim 8, wherein the
controller is further configured to: process the stored sensor data
using the algorithm and transfer the processed sensor data to the
node of the upper layer as the virtual sensor data.
12. A method of converging sensors in a virtual sensor network
system, the method comprising: executing, by a controller, a basic
function of a node; executing, by the controller, components of the
node using an algorithm; executing, by the controller, a sensor
interface connected with the sensor of a vehicle to operate the
sensor and receive the sensor data from the sensor; and executing,
by the controller, a network interface connected with a node of an
upper layer or a lower layer to receive command data and transmit
sensor data.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing, by the
controller, a time period for synchronization; storing, by the
controller, the sensor data received from the sensor interface and
a time for the time synchronization; and providing, by the
controller, the stored sensor data to the node of the upper layer
as the virtual sensor data in the provided time.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing, by the
controller, the functions of the node via a standardized interface;
and converting and providing, by the controller, heterogeneous
sensor protocols into a single integrated standard protocol.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: synchronizing, by
the controller, an entire time of the virtual sensor network
system.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: converting and
transferring, by the controller, the stored sensor data to the node
of the upper node as the virtual sensor data.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: processing, by the
controller, the stored sensor data using the algorithm and transfer
the processed sensor data to the node of the upper layer as the
virtual sensor data.
18. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program
instructions executed by a controller, the computer readable medium
comprising: program instructions that execute a basic function of a
node; program instructions that execute components of the node
using an algorithm; program instructions that control a sensor
interface connected with the sensor of a vehicle to operate the
sensor and receive the sensor data from the sensor; and program
instructions that control a network interface connected with a node
of an upper layer or a lower layer to receive command data and
transmit sensor data.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18,
further comprising: program instructions that provide a period for
time synchronization; program instructions that store the sensor
data received from the sensor interface and a time for the time
synchronization; and program instructions that provide the stored
sensor data to the node of the upper layer as the virtual sensor
data in the provided time.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0149949 filed in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 20, 2012, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] (a) Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a virtual sensor network
system, and more particularly, to a virtual sensor network system
for convergence of heterogeneous sensors.
[0004] (b) Description of the Related Art
[0005] An intelligent vehicle is a vehicle that reads interior and
exterior information of a vehicle using a sensor, recognizes
conditions by processing information based on an algorithm, and
performs appropriate measures according to the recognized
conditions.
[0006] Specifically, various sensors may be used in the intelligent
vehicle such as a homogeneous sensor and the sensors each have
different characteristics. Additionally, various algorithms may be
used such as an algorithm the performs a same function using
various methods, and characteristics of a single algorithm may
change depending on a change of parameters.
[0007] Moreover, each system developed by variously combined
sensors and an algorithm may be verified by being applied to a test
vehicle and during the verification process and performance
according to the changed the sensor and the algorithm may be tested
under the same conditions.
[0008] However, during the development or changing of the sensor
and the algorithm, the process of applying and verifying the
developed or changed sensor and algorithm to the test vehicle is
required and the development cost and time are consumed due to the
driving verification of the test vehicle
[0009] The above information disclosed in this section is only for
enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and
therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior
art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary
skill in the art.
SUMMARY
[0010] The present invention provides a virtual sensor network
system capable of implementing reliable verification during an
algorithm development process by reproducing a time deviation of
sensor data included in an actual sensor by a virtual sensor
network system configuration to which a time synchronization
algorithm may be applied.
[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a
virtual sensor network system that may include a virtual sensor
node that stores sensor data collected from a sensor mounted within
a vehicle in time synchronization therewith and provides the stored
sensor data in time synchronization therewith; and a master node
that performs a control on the virtual sensor node and performs an
algorithm used in an intelligent vehicle using the sensor data,
wherein the master node receives the sensor data stored in the
virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data in time
synchronization therewith, without inputting actual sensor data
from the sensor mounted within the vehicle while performing the
algorithm.
[0012] The virtual sensor network system may further include a
convergence sensor node that transfers a command from the master
node to the virtual sensor node and the virtual sensor data
transferred from the virtual sensor node to the master node between
the master node and the virtual sensor node. The convergence sensor
node may include an algorithm that processes the virtual sensor
data transferred from the virtual sensor node. Furthermore, the
master node may perform a control to store the sensor data via the
virtual sensor node during the driving of the vehicle in time
synchronization therewith, and control the virtual sensor node to
provide the sensor data stored in the virtual sensor node as the
virtual sensor data when the master node is not connected with the
vehicle.
[0013] The master node and the virtual sensor node each may
include: an interface unit that serves as an interface with
networks extraneous to the vehicle; a basic function unit that
performs a basic function of a node; an algorithm unit (e.g., a
processor) mounted with the algorithm for operating components of
the node; and an interaction unit that relays mutual data
transmission between the basic function unit and the algorithm
unit.
[0014] The interface unit may include a sensor interface connected
with the sensor of the vehicle to operate the sensor and configured
to receive the sensor data from the sensor; and a network interface
connected with a node of an upper layer or a lower layer to receive
command data and transmit sensor data.
[0015] The basic function unit may include: a time synchronization
module that provides a time period for synchronization; a data
storage module that stores the sensor data received from the sensor
interface with a time provided from the time synchronization
module; and a virtual sensor module that provides the sensor data
stored in the data storage module to the node of the upper layer as
the virtual sensor data in the time provided from the time
synchronization module.
[0016] The interaction unit may include: an application programming
interface (API) module that provides the functions of the basic
function unit to the algorithm unit via a standardized interface;
and a standard profile module that converts and provides
heterogeneous sensor protocols into a single integrated standard
protocol. Furthermore, the time synchronization module of the
master node may synchronize the entire time of the virtual sensor
network system and the time synchronization may be performed
periodically.
[0017] The sensor data stored in the data storage module may be
converted by the standard profile module and transferred to the
node of the upper layer as the virtual sensor data through the
virtual sensor module. The sensor data stored in the data storage
module may be transferred to the algorithm unit via the API module,
processed by the algorithm unit, and transferred to the node of the
upper node as the virtual sensor data via the virtual sensor
module.
[0018] As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, the time deviation of the sensor data
included in the actual sensor may be reproduced by the virtual
sensor network system configuration which the time synchronization
algorithm may be applied, thereby implementing the reliable
verification during the algorithm development process.
[0019] Further, the sensor interface and the protocol may be
unified during the processing of the sensor data by applying the
standard profile for the active safety sensor. The unified sensor
interface and protocol may be more efficient than the related art
that develops the system based on each sensor interface and the
protocol, respectively.
[0020] Further, the layering of the sensors and the introduction of
the convergence node may further improve the complexity of the
algorithm as compared to when the single controller processes all
the data to improve the efficiency and the stability and the
substantial amount of data may be processed by the dispersion
processing of the data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a basic node
structure configuring a virtual sensor network system according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of the virtual sensor
network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a configuration
in which the virtual sensor network system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is connected with a
sensor of a vehicle for a driving environment operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or
other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in
general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility
vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles,
watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and
the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles,
combustion, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered
vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived
from resources other than petroleum).
[0025] Although exemplary embodiment is described as using a
plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is
understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by
one or plurality of modules. Additionally, it is understood that
the term controller/control unit refers to a hardware device that
includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to
store the modules and the processor is specifically configured to
execute said modules to perform one or more processes which are
described further below.
[0026] Furthermore, control logic of the present invention may be
embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer
readable medium containing executable program instructions executed
by a processor, controller/control unit or the like. Examples of
the computer readable mediums include, but are not limited to, ROM,
RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash
drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer
readable recording medium can also be distributed in network,
coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is
stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics
server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).
[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As
used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of
one or more of the associated listed items.
[0028] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a basic node
structure configuring a virtual sensor network system according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, a basic node structure 100 according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of
units executed by a controller having a processor and a memory. The
plurality of units may include an interface unit 110, a basic
function unit 120, an interaction unit 130, and algorithm unit
(e.g., a processor) 140.
[0030] The interface unit 110 may include a sensor interface 111
and a network interface 112 to provide an interface with networks
extraneous to the vehicle. The sensor interface 111 may be
configured by a hardware and basic driver connected with the
external sensor to transmit and receive sensor data and control
data. The network interface 112 may include the hardware and basic
driver connected with anode of an upper layer or a lower layer to
receive command data or transmit the sensor data. The basic
function unit 120 may be configured to perform a basic function for
providing a function of the virtual sensor network system and by
the basic function, the sensor data received from the sensors of
test vehicle are stored under a driving environment in time
synchronization therewith and the stored sensor data of
heterogeneous sensors may be provided to the upper layer under a
laboratory environment in a standard protocol and time
synchronization therewith.
[0031] The basic function unit 120 may include a data storage
module 121, a time synchronization module 122, and a virtual sensor
module 123. The data storage module 121, executed by the
controller, may be configured to store various sensor data received
from the sensor interface 111 along with a receiving time provided
from the time synchronization module 121. The time synchronization
module 122, executed by the controller, may be synchronized with
the time of the upper layer of the virtual sensor network system
and may be configured to provide the time stored when the sensor
data is stored in the data storage module 121. The virtual sensor
module 123, executed by the controller, may be configured to
receive the sensor data stored in the data storage module 121 as
the sensor data in the standard protocol via the interaction unit
130 and may be configured to synchronize the sensor data based on
the transmitting time provided from the time synchronization module
122 and transmit the sensor data to the upper layer via the network
interface 112.
[0032] The interaction unit 130 may be configured to relay the
mutual data transmission between the basic function unit 120 and
the algorithm unit 140. In addition, the interaction unit 130 may
include an API module 131 and a standard profile module 132. The
API module 131, executed by the controller, may be configured to
provide functions of the basic function unit 120 to the algorithm
unit 140 via the standardized interface to improve the development
of the system. The standard profile module 132, executed by the
controller, may be configured to convert and provide various
heterogeneous sensor protocols into a single integrated standard
protocol to improve the development of the system.
[0033] Furthermore, the algorithm unit 140 may include the
developed algorithm mounted therein and may apply the algorithm to
the interface unit 110, the basic function unit 120, and the
interaction unit 130 to process the sensor data.
[0034] FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of the virtual sensor
network system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a virtual sensor network system
200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
may include a master node 210, a convergence sensor node 220, and a
virtual sensor node 230. The master node 210, the convergence
sensor node 220, and the virtual sensor 230 each may be configured
as the basic node structure 100 described with reference to FIG. 1.
Further, these nodes may not include all components of the basic
node structure 100 according to the usage of each node 210, 220,
and 230. For convenience of explanation, components of each node
210, 220, and 230 will be described using reference numerals of the
components of the basic node structure 100 described in FIG. 1.
[0036] The master node 210 may provide a reference time for
synchronizing the total time of the virtual sensor network system
200. In particular, the time synchronization module 122 of the
master node 210 may be configured to provide the reference time of
the network to each time synchronization module 122 of the
convergence sensor node 220 and the virtual sensor node 230.
[0037] The algorithm unit (e.g., the processor) 140 of the master
node 210 may be configured to execute the algorithm to be actually
tested. In addition, the master node 210 may further include a user
face (not illustrated) that receives a command from a user or
displays data to a user, in addition to the basic node structure
100.
[0038] The master node 10 may be connected with the convergence
sensor node and/or the virtual sensor node 230 of the lower layer.
The convergence sensor node 220 may be configured to transfer the
command data transferred from the upper layer to the lower layer
and the algorithm unit 140 may be configured to process the sensor
data received from the lower layer and provide the processed sensor
data to the upper layer. The lower nodes of the convergence sensor
node 220 directly connected with the mater node 210 may be hidden
and recognized as the single virtual sensor node by the master node
210. The convergence sensor node 220 may be connected with the
master node 210 or another convergence sensor node 220 to the upper
layer and may be connected with another convergence sensor node 220
and/or the virtual sensor node 230 to the lower layer. In addition,
the virtual sensor node 230 may be directly connected with the
sensor extraneous to the vehicle under the driving environment to
store the sensor data input from the sensor and provide the stored
sensor data to the node of the upper layer under the laboratory
environment.
[0039] Hereinafter, the operation of the virtual sensor network
system 200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0040] In both of the driving environment or the laboratory
environment, the virtual sensor network system 200 may utilize the
time synchronization module 122 of the master node 210 at the time
of the initial operation to synchronize the time of the time
synchronization module 122 of the convergence sensor node 220 of
the lower layer and the virtual sensor node 230 with the time of
the master node 210. The time synchronization may be performed
periodically.
[0041] First, the operation of the virtual sensor network system
200 under the driving environment will be described with reference
to FIG. 3.
[0042] FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a configuration
in which the virtual sensor network system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is connected with a
sensor of a vehicle for a driving environment operation.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 3, the virtual sensor network system 200
may be connected with various types of sensors that are mounted
within the test vehicle for collecting the test sensor data under
the driving environment. In particular, the sensor interface 111 of
the virtual sensor node 230 of the virtual sensor network system
200 may be connected with the sensor of the vehicle.
[0044] As described above, when the virtual sensor network system
200 is configured within the test vehicle, the algorithm unit 140
of the master node 210 may be configured to transfer a command for
storing the sensor data to the convergence sensor node 220 and the
virtual sensor node 230. Therefore, the virtual sensor node 230 of
the lower layer of the virtual sensor network system 200, that is,
the virtual sensor node directly connected with the sensor of the
test vehicle may be configured to receive a command received from
the upper layer via the network interface 112. In particular, the
received command may be converted into a unique protocol of the
sensor by the standard profile module 132 of the interaction unit
130 and may be transferred to the sensor via the sensor interface
111 to execute the operation of the sensor.
[0045] In this configuration, when the test vehicle is driven, the
virtual sensor node 230 may be configured to store the sensor data
output from the sensors of the test vehicle. In particular, the
sensor data output from the sensor of the test vehicle may be
received via the sensor interface 111 and the sensor data may be
stored in the data storage module 121 along with the receiving time
provided from the time synchronization module 122.
[0046] Moreover, the sensor data received via the sensor interface
111 according to the setting of the virtual sensor network system
200 may be converted into the standard protocol using the standard
profile module 132, transferred to the exterior via the virtual
sensor module 123 or processed by the algorithm unit 140 via the
API module 131, transferred to the virtual sensor module 123, and
transferred to the exterior via the network interface 112 along
with the time provided from the time synchronization module 122.
The sensor data storage may end by the command of the master node
210 or end by the driving completion of the test vehicle.
[0047] Next, the operation of the virtual sensor network system 200
under the laboratory environment will be described. The laboratory
environment corresponds to the reproduction of the driving
environment of the test vehicle based on the sensor data collected
and stored in the driving environment.
[0048] The algorithm unit 140 of the master node 210 may be
configured to transfer the command for reproducing the driving
environment using the virtual sensor based on the collected and
stored sensor data to the convergence sensor node 220 and the
virtual sensor node 230. Therefore, the virtual sensor node 230 of
the lower layer may be configured to receive a command directly
transferred from the master node 210 or transferred through the
convergence sensor node 220, via the network interface 112.
[0049] The data storage module 121 of the virtual sensor node 230
may be configured to transfer the stored sensor data to the
standard profile module 132 and the standard profile module 132 may
be configured to convert the sensor data into the standard protocol
and transfer the sensor data to the virtual sensor module 123.
Alternatively, the data storage module 122 may be configured to
transfer the sensor data to the algorithm unit 140 via the API
module 131 and the algorithm unit 140 may be configured to perform
the appropriate processing and transfer the processed sensor data
to the virtual sensor module 123.
[0050] The virtual sensor module 123 may be configured to transfer
the sensor data transferred from the standard protocol module 132
or the sensor data transferred from the algorithm unit 140 to the
convergence sensor node 220 or the master node 230 of the upper
layer via the network interface 112 in the transmitting time
provided from the time synchronization module 112.
[0051] Moreover, the time synchronization module 122 of the virtual
sensor module 123 may be configured to determine the transmitting
time by referring to the sensor data stored in the data storage
module 121 and the receiving time. Therefore, the virtual sensor
module 123 may be configured to provide the sensor data collected
under the driving environment by the transmitting time provided
from the time synchronization module 122 as the virtual sensor data
even in the laboratory environment, and similarly the time
collected under the driving environment.
[0052] Furthermore, when the convergence sensor node 220 receives
the sensor data from the sensor node of the lower layer, that is,
another convergence sensor node 220 or the virtual sensor node 230
via the network interface 112, the convergence sensor node 220 may
be configured to process the corresponding sensor data using the
algorithm unit 140 via the API module 131, transfer the sensor data
to the virtual sensor module 123, and transfer the sensor data to
the node of the upper layer via the network interface 112 in the
transmitting time provided from the time synchronization module
122.
[0053] As described above, at the time of the driving of the test
vehicle, the sensor data collected through the sensor may be stored
in time synchronization therewith and generated as the virtual
sensor data under the laboratory environment and transferred to the
upper layer, that is, finally the master node 210, thereby
implementing the virtual sensor even though there is no sensor data
from the actual sensor of the test vehicle.
[0054] The operation of the virtual sensor network system 200
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
described above, but the utilization of the developing tool using
the virtual sensor network system 200 according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
[0055] At the time of the driving of the test vehicle, the sensors
may be mounted within the test vehicle and each sensor may be
connected with the virtual sensor node 230. Here, each virtual
sensor node 230 may be connected with a lower network of the master
node 210. The lower nodes connected with the master node 210 may be
set using the user interface of the master node 210. To perform the
algorithm test in real time while storing the sensor data during
the driving, the algorithm unit 140 of the master node 210 may
include an algorithm to be tested.
[0056] For the algorithm test in real time during the driving, the
lower network may be configured via the convergence sensor node
220. Therefore, the algorithm unit 140 of the convergence sensor
node 220 may include the algorithm to be tested. During the driving
of the test vehicle, the sensor data from the sensor may be stored
in each virtual sensor node 230 along with the receiving time
synchronized with the master node 210. After the driving of the
test vehicle ends, the driving environment may be reproduced under
the laboratory environment. In particular, the data storage module
121 of the virtual sensor node 230 may be configured to store the
sensor data of each condition collected during the driving of the
test vehicle.
[0057] The entire network may be set by the master node 210 and
each algorithm may be verified during the replacement of the
algorithm included in the algorithm unit 140 of the master node
210, the convergence sensor node 220, and the virtual sensor node
230.
[0058] Meanwhile, the virtual sensor network system 200 according
to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may also be
used for the intelligent safety system. First, the sensor mounted
within the test vehicle may be connected with the virtual sensor
node 230. In particular, the data storage module 121 may be omitted
from the virtual sensor node 230.
[0059] The virtual sensor node 230 may be configured to provide the
sensor protocol interface integrated by the standard profile module
132 to the upper layer during communication with the sensor and the
convergence sensor node 220 may be configured to process the sensor
data from the lower layer and transfer the processed sensor data to
the upper layer. The master node 210 may be configured to process
the sensor data from the lower layer and provide the processed
sensor data to the intelligent safety system.
[0060] While this invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be exemplary embodiments, it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the
spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
TABLE-US-00001 Description of symbols 100: Basic node structure
110: Interface unit 120: Basic function unit 130: Interaction unit
140: Algorithm unit 111: Sensor interface 112: Network interface
121: Data storage module 122: Time synchronization module 123:
Virtual sensor module 131: API module 132: Standard profile module
200: Virtual sensor network system 210: Master node 220:
Convergence sensor node 230: Virtual sensor node
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